The King Returns
The time has finally arrived . After nine months out of action , Marc Marquez will return to MotoGP™ action this weekend in what promises to be a blockbuster comeback . The eight-time World Champion was given the all-clear by doctors last week to make his longawaited comeback after he sat out the opening two races of the year in Qatar .
Acosta irresistible
The 22-lap MotoGP™ affair was astonishing . But the earlier Moto3™ race will forever be remembered as the coming of age of grand prix racing ’ s new star : Pedro Acosta . At just 16 years and 314 days of age , the Spaniard swooped to his debut world championship win in just his second race
As if that wasn ’ t incredible enough , the Red Bull Ajo KTM rider copped a penalty for irresponsible riding on Friday , and was forced to start the 18-lap race from pit lane , along with six other riders . It meant he lost in
MotoGP™ set for Amazing Prime Series the region of eleven seconds on lap one .
But he made sensational progress , wiped out the deficit to the leaders , and joined the lead group after just eleven laps . He didn ’ t rest there . By the penultimate lap , he hit the front after gaining 22 places and coolly held of Darryn Binder on the final circuit to win by 0.039s . “ When I caught up , I took a little breath and then went after them . Everything worked out well ,” he said .
Remember the name .
On the back of the success of Netflix ’ s ‘ Drive to Survive ’ behind the scenes series on Formula1 , MotoGP™ organisers Dorna has confirmed Amazon Prime is working on a similar show for the two-wheel series , to be aired next year .
Riders were generally in approval . “ Nowadays we depend so much on image to show the world what we are doing and I think F1 has created a very good buzz around the sport because of what is happened backstage rather than the racing itself ,” said Miguel Oliveira . “ As riders I think we could have a lot to gain on such a format coming out .”
“ It ’ s a great feeling to be returning to MotoGP™ , with my team and my bike ,” said 28-year old Marquez . “ We have been working very hard to achieve this , many hours in the gym and with my physio Carlos . We would have liked to have been in Qatar , but finally my doctors advised me against it and I listened to them . I have really focused on listening to the doctors and understanding my body so that I can return to MotoGP™ and do what I love .”
Despite testing at this track in 2012 and also this March on a Honda RC213V-S street bike , this will be the first time Marquez has raced the undulating Portimao circuit . That fact , along with this being his first contact with a MotoGP™ machine since last July , make this weekend a real challenge . “ I have a little bit of experience in Portugal but the aim of this weekend is to work well ,” he said . “ Step by step , we are coming back and this is very positive after a long period .”
Franco Morbidelli was similarly enthusiastic . “ I love it , because I loved the Formula1 doc . I ’ m a great fan of F1 and to see the backstage or the different things we see usually about F1 freaked me out . I ’ m really looking forward to something like this for MotoGP™ : I won ’ t feel the same when I have cameras around me in difficult times . But it ’ s going to be good for the show . When I ’ m going to watch it back its going to be good to have a laugh . It ’ s a great thing for us , it ’ s a great thing for MotoGP™ and it ’ s a great thing for the viewer . We are in the documentary era . Why shouldn ’ t MotoGP™ make it ?”
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